Legend of Time aims to come with late run in Belmont Derby

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It has been a tale of two trips for Legend of Time in North America. After his pace-pressing style led to defeat in the American Turf at Churchill, Legend of Time went last to first to win the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Aqueduct.

It’s that late-running style trainer Charlie Appleby hopes to see Legend of Time employ Saturday when he heads a compact field in the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby at Aqueduct. Despite its lucrative purse and Grade 1 status, the Belmont Derby drew only five horses. On Saturday, the ungraded $150,000 Kent Stakes for 3-year-olds at Delaware Park drew 12, four of whom train in New York.

Legend of Time is one of five horses who have accounted for seven graded stakes wins for Appleby during the first half of 2024. His narrow win over White Palomino in the 1 1/8-mile Pennine Ridge came after he chased the pace and retreated to fifth in the 1 1/16-mile American Turf at Churchill.

Appleby said he probably made a mistake in having Legend of Time make his North American debut on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

“It is not the ideal scenario for any European horse to have their first experience in America with the big crowds and the razzmatazz of it all,” Appleby said. “I think the whole occasion got to him.”

In the Pennine Ridge, Legend of Time bobbled at the break, and jockey Joel Rosario got him settled for an inside trip. He was last of six down the backside, found running room inside the eighth pole, and was able to get up over the loose leader White Palomino.

“Win, lose, or draw, I was keen to do it that way, and that’s what he did,” Appleby said about the off-the-pace style. “Thankfully, we got the result as well, great ride from Rosario, but the important part of it all was he got a good experience and he raced the right way around.”

Legend of Time is a two-time winner at 1 1/8 miles, so an additional half-furlong should be no issue.

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“We always felt the step up in trip is going to suit this horse,” Appleby said.

Legend of Time is one of about 18 horses Appleby has in the United States. He has been training at Saratoga. On Saturday, he will break from the rail under William Buick.

Endlessly won his first three starts, all on turf, before finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. This year, Endlessly won two stakes – the El Camino Real at Golden Gate and the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway – over synthetic surfaces. His owner, John Amerman, was keen on trying the Kentucky Derby, where Endlessly finished ninth, 13 3/4 lengths behind Mystik Dan.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said he’s glad to be getting Endlessly back on turf, though he hasn’t been able to work on turf being based at Santa Anita.

McCarthy does think the 1 3/16 miles will be no issue for Endlessly, whose wins on turf all were at a mile but his two synthetic scores came at 1 1/8 miles.

“He was moving forward at the finish line in the Jeff Ruby, he was moving forward at the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. I don’t think a mile and three-sixteenths or a mile and a quarter will be an issue for him,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said he would like to see Endlessly get a covered-up type trip under Umberto Rispoli.

“He’s a horse that’s best when he’s got a target,” McCarthy said.

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Trikari upset the Grade 2 American Turf at 47-1 before getting beat a neck while prompting the pace in the Grade 3 Penn Mile. Trikari, trained by Graham Motion, is owned by Amerman as well. John Velazquez rides.

White Palomino won a 1 3/16-mile maiden race at Keeneland from a stalking position. He set the pace in the Pennine Ridge and was just touched off at the wire, finishing a head behind Legend of Time and 1 1/4 lengths clear of Royal Majesty.

White Palomino is likely to be a forward factor Saturday under Flavien Prat.

“He doesn’t have a big turn of foot, so him being more forward is helpful,” trainer Chad Brown said.

Royal Majesty, by Frankel and a half-sister to champion older female Royal Delta, may appreciate the added distance. Junior Alvarado rides for Bill Mott.

The Belmont Derby goes as race 6 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:35 p.m. and includes the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, the Grade 2, $200,000 John Nerud for older male sprinters, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Dwyer for 3-year-olds.

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